Becoming a Provider
There is a demonstrated need for quality licensed child care in our area. This is especially true for infants and toddlers and for families who work non-standard hours.
If this profession interests you, we have many resources to help. Explore our website and then contact us at 527.4333 or tina.lopez@wwcc.edu
Steps to Becoming Licensed
1. Attend a Department of Early Learning Orientation. DEL is the state agency that licenses both family child care homes and child care centers in Washington.
a. Reservations: Call 509.737.2812 to reserve your space at orientation.
2. Get Ready: Gather Needed Documentation
- Create a parent contract that contains your policies and procedures as well as your discipline policies. CCR&R has software that can help you develop this important document.
- Complete the application given out at Orientation.
- Provide 3 character references.
- Submit to a Washington State criminal background check.
- Documentation of a negative TB test.
- Completion of HIV/AIDS training.
- Completion of pediatric first aid and CPR.
- Submit above documentation with resume’ and transcripts to DEL along with $24.00 license fee.
3. Get Set: Prepare Your Home
- Ensure that your home meets minimum licensing requirements. CCR&R can help with a home visit and consultation that will help you ready your home and your child care program.
- Allow DEL and the fire department to inspect your home for safety.
- Complete 20 hours of basic child care training within six months of becoming licensed. This training is available at WWCC in person each June and online every quarter. STARS website: https://fortress.wa.gov/dshs/f2ws03esaapps/stars
4. Go: Congratulations!
- You are well on your way to enjoying an exciting new profession! Once you receive your license, you will be entitled to all the services CCR&R provides. Please see our provider pages to explore these resources.
- See The Washington State Child Care Resource and Referral Network Becoming a Provider Page for more information.
Facility Funding
1. Cascadia Revolving Fund
a. Cascadia’s Child Care Fund provides low-interest loans and technical assistance to family child care homes and child care centers throughout Washington State. Through the Child Care Fund, Cascadia strives to:
- increase the number of child care slots,
- improve the quality of child care,
- increase the number of jobs in communities,
- increase the income of child care business owners and employees and,
- assist providers in building economic assets.
Cascadia helps preserve and improve much-needed child care programs by offering borrowers one-on-one consultation in accounting, finance and business management. A business consultant works exclusively with Child Care Fund applicants and borrowers to help them enhance their business acumen and sharpen their financial management skills. This allows providers to strengthen their business, maximize their profit margins, and successfully cope with the multitude of financial issues facing every small business owner. In addition to the business-related consultation provided to each Child Care Fund borrower, Cascadia offers family child care providers personal financial management counseling. For information on loan amounts, rates, terms or for any other information regarding Child Care Fund loans, please visit: www.cascadiafund.org/childcare.html or contact:
Mary Ann Johnson, Manager, Child Care Fund
1901 NW Market St.
Seattle, WA 98107
206.447.9226.
2. Child Care Micro-Loans –
There are child care micro loan funds available throughout the state. The interest rate varies from 6% to 9% depending on the lender. Most lenders have loans up to $5,000 for child care homes and up to $25,000 for child care centers.
Contact:
Monica Jackson
Family Development Coordinator
Benton Franklin Community Action Council
720 W Court Street Pasco, WA 99301
509.545.4042 or 800.583.1112 ext. 219
mjackson@bfcac.org
3. The Child Care Facility Fund
This fund provides loans and grants to child care businesses to start or expand child care facilities. Loans and grants must be approved by a board comprised of child care and financial experts. For further assistance, contact:
Gail Gosney, Employer Liaison
P.O. Box 48300
Olympia, WA 98504-8300
360.725.4034, 360.586.0873 (fax)
E-mail: gailg@cted.wa.gov
SUBSIDY PROGRAMS
1. Community Service Office
CSOs are the local offices that provide many DSHS services. You can contact your local CSO for information on help for paying for child care, public assistance, food stamps, medical assistance, emergency needs, or how to contact other DSHS programs in your community. A specific program that helps parents pay for child care is called Working Connections Child Care. For more information, click here.
- Walla Walla & Columbia County CSO
509.529.0406
416 E Main
Walla Walla, WA 99362 - Garfield County CSO
509.758.5537
525 5th Street
Clarkston, WA 99403
2. USDA Food Program The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides federal funds to nonresidential child and adult care facilities to serve nutritious meals and snacks. The goal of the CACFP is to improve and maintain the health and nutritional status of children and adults in care while promoting the development of good eating habits.
Heading using the h3 tag
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.